Using the tool

Tip: For information about what sort of people might find the tool useful, click Show more help on the right hand side of the screen.

This tool can help you review a piece of health research by guiding you through a series of questions to ask about it. Once you have answered all the questions, you will receive a summary of your answers to help you read a conclusion about the research.

Reviewing a paper can take up to 30 minutes, but you can stop at any point and get a summary of your answers by clicking "Go to summary" at the bottom of the page.

Here are four tips to help you get the most out of the tool:

Hold your mouse pointer over words underlined with dotted line to see a definition of that word

On some pages clicking "show more help" will provide more explanation to help you answer the questions

If you are not sure, pick the answer you think is closest, and remember that you can always go back

Remember that even if research is good research, that does not necessarily mean the findings apply to your circumstances. When weighing up scientific evidence, it is never a good idea to rely on the results of one study. Each study only tells part of the evidence 'story'. We recommend that you consult a health professional before making any major decisions that may affect your health.